Community archive

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Why is TechRepublic download happy?

0 helpful
4 replies

by ni70

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
It's so frustrating to read the e-newsletter and find something I'd like to read, click on the link, and then taken to a download! Why can't these downloads be viewed as a web page with a download this article or whatever link? Also should give notice in e-newsletters that the link will take you to the downloads page! I no longer download the article/information unless it's very interesting. DOWNLOADS are so frustrating! Provide a web page with a download link, most downloads are only PDFs or Word documents. Provide a link for each versions instead of downloading the article, then find it's not what you really wanted!

4 replies

by Jay Garmon

Jason Hiner, head of our Downloads Group, has answered this elsewhere:

"A [content item] gets much more traffic as a PDF download than it does as an HTML article. That's why we publish it that way. Of course, that's not a unanimous sentiment, but user behavior has overwhelmingly shown us that that's what most members prefer. That's why we do it as a download.

"Ideally, we could offer information like this as both a download and an HTML article, but in times like these when resources are stretched, that's tough to do. So we have to put things in the format that gets the most interest from members."

I'm sure Jason is open to suggestions on the topic. You can reach his profile (and send him a message) here.
https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5213-6257-0.html?id=3053951&redirectTo=%2f1320-22-20.html

by gralfus

I found it rather silly to want to view some info, only to be directed to a download page, have to download it, then open in Acrobat. Then it typically is a one page bit of info anyway. How did that save resources? Now I typically don't bother if it turns out to be a download.

And since you are adding blogs to TR, you can't be hurting for drive space.

by jmgarvin

It is nice to be able to download them and share them out with my co-workers rather than having to point them to a web page or print the bugger out.

Plus most of the DLs make good reference material and TR gets the kudos.

by ni70

Then if you like the article, you have the option to download it! It's quite annoying to be pointed to a download straight from the git go! I'd like the option of downloading the article after reading it! Not downloading and then to be disappointed or not satisfied with the downloaded article! That's my point, give the readers an option to download or read a web version first!

This discussion is closed to new replies.